Kenna Shell: Amazing Weight Loss Transformation To Become A Fitness Inspiration! Her Story.
How Did You Get Started In Health And Fitness?
I really got started in Health and Fitness In 2007. I had worked hard to get in shape before my Wedding in 2006 then got married and gained 20lbs. So that’s when I found the Eat Clean Diet book by Tosca Reno in 2007. I started following her principals and working out mainly just cardio because it was easy and I didn’t have to think about what to do. I had never had a personal trainer so I didn’t really know what else to do but cardio… haha
Was It Something You Were Always Interested In?
I’ve really always been interested in working out. My first workout video was a Cindy Crawford video. I wore that thing out!! But that was back in high school and I had never even stepped foot into a Gym. So I used that at home and I also had a Tony Little Gazelle… lol.
What Is Your Best Accomplishment So Far? Proudest Moment?
Best accomplishment so far is probably right now. I am so proud of being able to lose all of my pregnancy weight. And also being able to help so many other people who are wanting so bad to achieve their weight loss goals. And each day I get another message by someone saying they have lost another 5-10 lbs. because of my private motivational group. It’s a very rewarding feeling to know that people want you to help them in their lives.
What’s It Like To Be A Sponsored Athlete?
I’m not a Sponsored Athlete…. YET…. I would love to be someday. Hopefully SOON. 🙂
What Is It Like Competing?
I have not competed yet. I am doing my first show this coming November. I’m so excited about that!
What Workout Routine Has Worked Best For You?
I am currently working out with a Personal Trainer on Tuesdays and Fridays. He has me doing all sorts of things. During the rest of the week I wake up and do Cardio on an Empty Stomach. For 45-60 minutes. I also take E&E (it’s Energy and Endurance by Team Beachbody). I take this before the Cardio. I will also add in some of the other workout videos that I’ve done in the past. I switch it up so my body doesn’t get used to it. This week I’m doing a week of Insanity. Next week I will do a week of Brazil Butt Lift.
Top 3 Favorite Exercises And Why?
1. Squats: I love how they have lifted my booty.
2. Plank Work: gave me the Abs I have now.
3. Lunges: great for tightening up the legs.
Favorite Form Of Cardio?
I love cardio haha But I have a Treadmill at home so that’s mostly what I do. I do a bunch of incline work. Walk for 5 mins at 3.0 to warm up then up the incline to 5-6% jog for about .8 miles at 5.0-6.0 mph then walk at 15% incline for .2 miles at 3.0-4.0mph. I just switch it up everyday and I think thats key to success. Tomorrow the workout might be totally different but that’s what I felt like doing today.
What Is Your Diet Like?
My Diet is very easy… I follow this each day and just change the type of protein at each meal:
Meal 1. 1/2c of Oatmeal with 1/2c. Almond Milk and a little bit of Cinnamon. I eat my Oatmeal cold. I just don’t like the texture of cooked Oatmeal so I eat it like a cold cereal. I will also have 3-4 Egg Whites for breakfast.
Meal 2. Chocolate Vegan Shakeology or the Protein Shake of your Choice. I mix mine with water or a little bit of Almond milk and 1 tsp Peanut Butter
Meal 3. 3-6 oz. Chicken Breast with 1/2c. of Sweet Potato and 1/2c Veggies
Meal 4. Low Carb Tortilla with 2-3 Tbsp. of Hummus and 3 oz. Grilled chicken and veggies
Meal 5. 3-6 oz. Grilled Tilapia with 1c. Veggies
Meal 6. Protein Shake made with water
Any Staple/Classic Healthy Meals That You Always Eat? What Is Your Favorite Cheat Meal?
Classic Healthy Meal: Egg whites and Asparagus. If I am needing to add natural fat into my diet I will eat a whole poached egg with the Asparagus and some grilled onions. By far my Favorite Healthy Meal.
Favorite Cheat Meal: Anything Fried. I’m from Oklahoma we fry anything. 🙂 So I’d have to say Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes and gravy, Fried Okra and a Sweet Tea. And then Favorite Dessert is Chocolate Cake. – hints why I gained 80lbs. during my pregnancy. 🙂
What Supplements Do You Use And Why?
I use CLA, Rhodiola, Alive brand Multi Vitmain Multi Mineral, and E&E for Energy.
What Are Your Tips For Success For Beginners?
Tips for Success, Just DONT GIVE UP!!! There will be times you think oh, screw it. Or maybe your not seeing your results come fast enough. But just hang in there. They WILL come. As long as your doing everything right. Like Eating Clean and Exercising and getting your Calorie Burn in. Your body has no other choice but to burn the fat. Thats just how it was created.
Beginner Tips: Don’t get overwhelmed with trying to get to the end result. Take it one day at a time and let things happen how they are gonna happen. I know that you wanted to get to your weight loss goals like yesterday. But you have to know that the weight didn’t come on over night and its not going to come off over night or even in a few weeks. It takes Months of hard work to transform your body. Please don’t be mislead by people selling gimmick diet plans. They might work for a short while but you have to train yourself how to live day to day. And eat day to day so that you will have success FOREVER!!
What Is The Best Advice You Have Ever Been Given?
Follow your heart. If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your instincts. Be Honest with people. They can accept it or hate it but at least you walk away knowing you did what was right.
Did You Make Any Mistakes When You First Started Out?
LOL… Umm I’m the queen of starting and not finishing things… Except this. 🙂 But I did start and stop the weight loss process all the time. But it just goes back to remembering your Ultimate Goals and fighting to keep them and get to them. You can have several bad days or even weeks and still reach a goal. Its just that you wont reach your goal for that much longer. But just because you screw up doesn’t mean give up….. KEEP FIGHTING!! I fight with my mind everyday. And I end up telling my body what to do! Thats just how it is.
What’s Your Favorite Body Part?
I think my Abs but I’m constantly working on everything.
Your Best Tips To Getting Into Contest Shape/Losing Those Last Few Pounds?
If you need to lose the last few lbs. I recommend cutting starchy carbs at night. That means NO Brown Rice, Pasta, even fruit past 4pm.
What’s Your Gym Playlist Like? Favourite Song To Play While Running?
My Gym Playlist is a bunch of different types of music. I love Drake, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Rowland, Pink, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Flo Rida, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, CaSh Out, Mike Posner, Birttney Spears.
Favorite Running Song right now is: Lights by Ellie Goulding, Bangarang – ft. Sirah by Skrillex, Don’t Wake Me Up – Chris Brown
Where Does Your Motivation Come From?
My Motivation comes from my Mother. She raised me and my bother as a single mom and taught us to work for whatever we wanted. And with hard work anything is possible. Keep your focus on God and he will take care of all the rest. So that’s what I do.
Favorite Fitness Models?
Favorite Fitness Model is Jennifer Nicole Lee…. I love her story, I love her business ideas. She is a great inspiration to many people.
Favorite Quote?
If we are interested we do whatever is convenient. If we are committed we do whatever it takes. – John Assaraf
Kenna’s Weight Loss Transformation Story
I am a mother to a 3 year old little boy born on May 18, 2009. During my pregnancy I gained 80 lbs. I would eat anything I wanted at anytime of the day or night. With little or no activity at all. My husband was a Professional Baseball Player up in the Big Leagues with the Washington Nationals at the time. So since he was traveling all over the USA I couldn’t fly everywhere being so far along in my pregnancy so I would stay at home and eat and watch Television (home was an extended stay hotel or apartment that we rented). We lived in an unfamiliar cities. Viera, FL ( for Spring Training ) and Arlington, VA ( for the regular season) while he was with the Nationals.
On April 19, 2009 exactly 1 month before I was due to have our son, Steven was Designated for Assignment which basically means he got fired from the team he was on. We had just moved into our apartment in Virginia and I had just met my 3rd Doctor for this pregnancy and this one was going to be the Doctor for the delivery. 1st Doctor was back home in Oklahoma then Doctor #2 was in Spring Training and Doctor #3 was in Washington, DC. So needless to say I had to call back Doctor #1 and see if she would accept me as her patient again since I was so far along in the pregnancy.
Thankfully she did so my Mother flew out to Washington, DC to help me pack and fly home. I flew home on the last possible day you can fly during a pregnancy. I got the okay from the Doctor to fly home but was told to be prepared that I might have this baby on the flight. So I chose to fly back home and be with family. I flew home and 2 weeks later had our son Tyler.
After having my son in May of 2009 I decided this is enough and I had to figure out a way to get this weight off. I saw the infomercial for P90X and knew that was the only program that was honestly gonna give me my body back. I knew there was no short cut for weight loss and I just had to put in the hard work. What got me to purchase the program was a woman on there in a Pink Bikini saying that she was a Mom and able to workout at home. It’s crazy because I can still remember her before and after pictures in my mind. She made a huge impression on me. I remember wanting to be like her because she looked so happy. And I felt like total crap about myself. I had never been this much over weight and I was depressed about it. I purchased P90X. And I made a choice to change. So I got the P90X videos in the mail and I was so excited to start it. Little did I know how hard it was going to be. I couldn’t even get through the warm up on the first day.
So that brings us to July 26, 2009 One of the worst and scariest days of my life. Steven has since gotten a Baseball job with the Tacoma, Rainiers a AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Tyler was just over 2 months old. We are at home in Oklahoma listening to the live broadcast of the game online. It’s in the 7th inning, Stevens had a great game so far pitching against the Las Vegas 51’s when he throws a Fastball to Las Vegas 51’s Outfielder Buck Coats. Coats connects with the ball and sends it right up the middle to hit Steven on the right cheek knocking him down on the mound.
The ball was going well over 100 MPH. And all I hear on the Live Broadcast, while I’m feeding Tyler his bottle is “Shell is down, he’s been struck in the head by batted ball and he’s not moving” Then there was silence, and the announcer saying “Shells not moving and they have put a towel over his face” I thought my husband was just killed right then and there. A few seconds later the announcer says he sees his feet moving and they are putting him on a stretcher. Then as he’s being wheeled out of the stadium he gives the crowd a wave and that puts me at ease because I knew if he waved he wasn’t dead. I called all of my family and we started a prayer chain immediately.
I call Stevens Agent to see how to get in contact with any one on the Tacoma Rainiers Staff. Since Steven had just signed with them I didn’t know anyone on the team. I get a call from Steven, he’s in the ambulance and the EMT let him borrow their phone to call me. He didn’t know what was going on and he was scared I would later find out. So in the mean time he is being transported to the Hospital in Tacoma where they have all of their Surgeons there ready for immediate facial reconstructive surgery. He gets to the hospital and they do X-Rays and scans to see what all has been broken. All of the Doctors are amazed that this 100 MPH baseball has not broken any bones in his face. There was a slight fracture of the sinus cavity but he would not need surgery.
Me and Tyler along with Stevens Parents fly out to Seattle early the next morning. So needless to say that put a huge halt to my weight loss process and workouts. We spent a little over 2 months living in an Extended Stay Hotel in Tacoma, WA. I would watch my eating and get workouts in when I could. We came back home to Oklahoma in September of 2009. Thats when I really started working out again on a consistent basis and Eating Clean. It’s been a ton of hard work and determination not to give up. Honestly I wouldn’t let myself give up. I couldn’t because I knew I’d never be happy at the weight I was. My knees hurt all the time, my blood pressure was high, I would sweat doing the smallest things and I couldn’t wear any of my cute clothes anymore. I knew if I was going through this then tons of other girls were too. So I made it a mission to change my lifestyle so I could help others and give them hope. There is a way out of the pit. It will take everything you have to get your workouts in and not eat crappy foods but If you will just do that, it will change your life!!!
I really enjoy all of the beachbody products I have purchased. I have P90X, Chalean Extreme, Insanity and Brazil Butt Lift. I know the programs help others just like they helped me. Beachbody has truly CHANGED MY LIFE!!! I look forward to helping as many people as I possibly can. Beachbody has even awarded me with a free trip to Disney next year. Just for being a Coach and helping others. You can contact me if your interested in Coaching others too.
For More Of Kenna Shell Please Check Out:
Facebook: Goodbye Fat Hello Muscle
Website: www.KennaShell.com
Instagram: @Kennashell
